COEASU threatens to suspend academic activities nationwide

BY GABRIEL DIKE
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to address the security chal­lenges in some colleges of education or it would be forced to suspend academic activities nationwide.
The union explained that the security challenges, par­ticularly in the North have resulted in the death of some COEASU members and students, saying fears have gripped colleges of education in the areas.
The position of COEASU was taken at the Expanded National Executive Council (ENEC) meeting held in Abuja to examine the federal government responss to the outstanding issues and to deliberate on other challenges besetting the nation as they affect the colleges of education.
The union also decried the non implementation of the retirement age and CONPCASS for its members by some state governments warning that they face industrial action.
The communiqué which was signed by the COEASU President, Comrade Emmanuel Nkoro and the General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Origima, decried the massacre and kidnapping of staff and students of Federal College of Education, (FCE), Kano and Federal College of Education (FCE) (T), Omoku, Rivers State.
On the situation at FCE Kano, COEASU ENEC decried the infiltration of the campus leading to the massacre of innocent students and staff conducting their normal academic business stressing, ‘’council is particularly deeply concerned given the fact that the college, situated in the heart of the town, could have been so attacked for hours before security agents’ belated
response’’.
The union expressed her condolences to the entire community of FCE Kano on the cold-blooded murder of staff and students by yet-to-be identified gunmen.
COEASU implored the government to step up efforts to stem the spate of violent crimes in the country and tasked security agents to unravel those behind the killings.
On incessant kidnap of staff of FCE (T), Omoku, the three-page resolution stated that no fewer than ten staff was abducted in the last three months leading to the death of three even as it expressed dismay that the security agents have not arrested the perpetrators of the crime.
It urged the government as a matter of urgency to se­cure all institutions across the country to ensure meaningful teaching and learning process necessary
for the overall development of education.
‘’Council strongly warned that she would not be con­strained to suspend academic activities in colleges of education nationwide, indefinitely, if the dire insecurity in the colleges is not addressed and such incidents recurs,’’ it advised.
The communiqué also viewed the federal govern­ment’s response through a letter dated October 28 noting that the three months moratorium is quite belated, and unsubstantial in its terse content but enjoined members to strive irrespective of the disposition of government towards ensuring quality service delivery in line with global best practices.
COEASU described the grave implication of Benue, Niger, Kaduna and Sokoto states non implementation of the CONPCASS and that their action portends damage on the education process in the colleges and urged the respective governments to start the implementation or risk serious industrial action spare-headed by the national secretariat.
The ENEC meeting also decried the refusal of Akwa Ibom State government to implement the retirement age of 65 years in the state College of Education, Afaha-Nsit and described as pathetic the dis­criminatory implementation of the retirement age in the state tertiary institutions which excluded the colleges of education.

Source: Sun News